After an initial patient with cerebral palsy had an apparent dramatic reduction in spasticity when placed on modafinil, a pilot study was undertaken in 10 pediatric patients to confirm or refute the benefit of modafinil in cerebral palsy. Nine of 10 patients completed the 1-month treatment period. The study patients were treated with 50 or 100 mg of modafinil once daily in the morning. An assessment was made at baseline and at 1 month on treatment. All patients had a clinical examination, Modified Ashworth Scale scores (spasticity) determined by a physical therapist, and videotaping of ambulation. In comparing visit 1 (baseline) and visit 2 (on treatment), statistically significant improvement in the modified Ashworth Scale scores was noted in seven of the nine patients completing the study (P = .0080). A blinded review of the videotapes did not show statistically significant differences in ambulation, but the speed (ft/sec) of gait improved in six of the nine patients (P = .0192). In this study, modafinil, a newly released central stimulant for narcolepsy, showed benefit in treating spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy. A second larger, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial is planned to confirm these initial results and observations. Modafinil appears to benefit spastic cerebral palsy by a yet to be determined mechanism; however, a primary effect of modafinil on brainstem structures is hypothesized to reduce spasticity of central origin.
%0 Journal Article
%1 Hurst2002
%A Hurst, Daniel L
%A Lajara-Nanson, Walter
%D 2002
%J J Child Neurol
%K Adolescent; Benzhydryl Compounds; Body Weight; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Child, Preschool; Follow-Up Studies; Gait; Humans; Male; Physical Therapy Modalities; Videotape Recording
%N 3
%P 169--172
%T Use of modafinil in spastic cerebral palsy.
%V 17
%X After an initial patient with cerebral palsy had an apparent dramatic reduction in spasticity when placed on modafinil, a pilot study was undertaken in 10 pediatric patients to confirm or refute the benefit of modafinil in cerebral palsy. Nine of 10 patients completed the 1-month treatment period. The study patients were treated with 50 or 100 mg of modafinil once daily in the morning. An assessment was made at baseline and at 1 month on treatment. All patients had a clinical examination, Modified Ashworth Scale scores (spasticity) determined by a physical therapist, and videotaping of ambulation. In comparing visit 1 (baseline) and visit 2 (on treatment), statistically significant improvement in the modified Ashworth Scale scores was noted in seven of the nine patients completing the study (P = .0080). A blinded review of the videotapes did not show statistically significant differences in ambulation, but the speed (ft/sec) of gait improved in six of the nine patients (P = .0192). In this study, modafinil, a newly released central stimulant for narcolepsy, showed benefit in treating spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy. A second larger, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial is planned to confirm these initial results and observations. Modafinil appears to benefit spastic cerebral palsy by a yet to be determined mechanism; however, a primary effect of modafinil on brainstem structures is hypothesized to reduce spasticity of central origin.
@article{Hurst2002,
abstract = {After an initial patient with cerebral palsy had an apparent dramatic reduction in spasticity when placed on modafinil, a pilot study was undertaken in 10 pediatric patients to confirm or refute the benefit of modafinil in cerebral palsy. Nine of 10 patients completed the 1-month treatment period. The study patients were treated with 50 or 100 mg of modafinil once daily in the morning. An assessment was made at baseline and at 1 month on treatment. All patients had a clinical examination, Modified Ashworth Scale scores (spasticity) determined by a physical therapist, and videotaping of ambulation. In comparing visit 1 (baseline) and visit 2 (on treatment), statistically significant improvement in the modified Ashworth Scale scores was noted in seven of the nine patients completing the study (P = .0080). A blinded review of the videotapes did not show statistically significant differences in ambulation, but the speed (ft/sec) of gait improved in six of the nine patients (P = .0192). In this study, modafinil, a newly released central stimulant for narcolepsy, showed benefit in treating spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy. A second larger, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial is planned to confirm these initial results and observations. Modafinil appears to benefit spastic cerebral palsy by a yet to be determined mechanism; however, a primary effect of modafinil on brainstem structures is hypothesized to reduce spasticity of central origin.},
added-at = {2014-07-19T20:28:57.000+0200},
author = {Hurst, Daniel L and Lajara-Nanson, Walter},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2fad83052f74eaf43f32a5e8ffc89bc10/ar0berts},
groups = {public},
interhash = {9cd3bb24002454fe5c70195e730b8239},
intrahash = {fad83052f74eaf43f32a5e8ffc89bc10},
journal = {J Child Neurol},
keywords = {Adolescent; Benzhydryl Compounds; Body Weight; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Child, Preschool; Follow-Up Studies; Gait; Humans; Male; Physical Therapy Modalities; Videotape Recording},
month = Mar,
number = 3,
pages = {169--172},
pmid = {12026230},
timestamp = {2014-07-19T20:28:57.000+0200},
title = {Use of modafinil in spastic cerebral palsy.},
username = {ar0berts},
volume = 17,
year = 2002
}